Albany State University (ASU) kicked off an exciting lecture series presented by the Title III grant, “Creating a Community Engagement and Experiential Learning Continuum,” with guest speaker Lisa Leslie. The series focuses on bridging the gap between students and the community to promote continuous learning initiatives.

Guest speaker Lisa Leslie is one of the most recognized players in both the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Team USA. Leslie led the gold-winning Team USA in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008. In 2002, she became the WNBA all-time leading scorer and was named MVP of the regular season for the second consecutive year, leading the Sparks to their first back-to-back championship. She continued to amaze the world with the first slam dunk in WNBA history.

Leslie became a commentator for ESPN in 2004 and has since served as an in-studio sports analyst for ABC, Turner, Fox Sports Net, and NBC. Currently, Leslie is a co-host of CBS Sports’ “We Need to Talk.” She authored her book, “Don't Let the Lipstick Fool You,” in 2008 and, in 2010, became the first WNBA player to become co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks. She is also an experienced entrepreneur, co-founding the first luxury national real estate firm, Aston Rose.

Albany State University student Joy Robinson, a senior accounting major, served as the evening’s moderator. During the lecture, Leslie and Robinson engaged with students from the University and those invited from the Dougherty County School System.Leslie shared her inspirational journey of overcoming challenges both on and off the court. Her message focused on empowering students to set and achieve their goals.

“As young people, you have social media as a heavy influence on what you want to achieve and own. It’s so much pressure, but you have to come back to reality,” Leslie emphasized. “In order to reach whatever goal, you have or what you want to be, write it down and figure out what it will take to accomplish it.” Leslie encouraged, “Don’t be afraid to use the resources right in front of you, whether it’s improving your grades, sending applications, or getting a mentor.”

The evening continued with Leslie highlighting the power of education, maintaining a positive mindset, having integrity, and the courage to work hard and execute goals. She also encouraged students to find mentors and embrace learning, as discussed in her book "From the Court to the Boardroom," which she signed and provided to attendees.

The first installment of the series concluded with an impactful message to the audience from Albany State University Interim President, Dr. Lawrence M. Drake II. “You come into this world with all the opportunities to do whatever you want. Then, somehow along the way, the world keeps telling you what you cannot do, and the more it tells you, the more it often turns into you not doing it.”

Dr. Drake continued, “To our students and adults, do not talk yourself out of something because you do not think you are good enough. You are good enough, but you have to believe it.”

The “Creating a Community Engagement and Experiential Learning Continuum” lecture series will strengthen Albany State University’s commitment to harnessing the potential of the campus and local community. By fostering lifelong learning and collaborative educational experiences, this series will play a vital role in shaping the future of education for years to come.